We've done it – our Maggie's Centre is here!

THE day fundraisers from all over Fife have all been waiting for is finally here!

Friday, November 3 marks an exciting milestone and an important date in the history of our town as our Maggie's Centre officially opens its doors for the first time.

Local dignitaries including Kirkcaldy MP Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, who is also Patron of Maggie's Fife, Marilyn Livingstone MSP, and architect Zaha Hadid are some of the high-profile guests who will be attending an official opening ceremony.

Invited guests including many Press readers who have helped our appeal and our reporting team, who will be at our Maggie's Centre throughout the afternoon, will be the first in the Kingdom to get a look at our purpose-built cancer care centre.

The doors will also be thrown open to everyone late in the afternoon, while three special Open Days have been set up throughout November.

Fife fundraising manager Elizabeth Adams told The Press: "We are hosting three open days – November 9, 16 and 23 – so people can come in and have a look. Of course, as with any new building there will be snagging going on and furnishings going in for a wee while to come, but we hope as many people as possible drop in.''

The run-up to today's official opening has been a busy one for all involved with Maggie's Fife.

On Monday, the keys were handed over from site manager Jim Mackay to Elizabeth, with the Press there to record yet another historic landmark for our campaign.

Later that day, some of the furniture was delivered and then Elizabeth and her team hosted the first opening event for professionals from Fife's health care sector.

Elizabeth added: "It's great to be able to finally open the doors. As well as high-profile guests we have invited a cross-section of the community. Unfortunately we couldn't invite everyone but our open days give an opportunity for people to come in and see what they have been a part of.

"We are at a crucial stage. We now have a building and have to set about raising money to make sure we can keep our centre running

"I'd like to once again give a heartfelt thank you from everybody at Maggie's to the Fifers who have been involved. We wouldn't have been able to do it without their help and especially the Fife Free Press."

Gordon Brown MP also paid tribute, stating: "People in Fife have raised 500,000 and this has created the first Maggie's Centre in the UK outwith a city. Thanks to the fantastic fundraising efforts locally we have moved ahead of Maggie's Centres planned for Nottingham, Oxford and London.